Summer Squash Veggie Pie

Alright! This sour cream and veggie pie was a hit at lunch time yesterday! :-) The yellow orange color of the pie reminds me of summer hence the name Summer Squash - which is also in the pie. I made it in such a hurry that I can barely remember what I put in it, but here's the general idea! :-)

Pastry
1/2 cup cream of wheat
1 cup sprouted wheat flour
Approx 3 TBSP ghee
1 tsp sea salt
water as needed to make a smooth non-sticky pastry

Mix all dry ingredients, add in ghee to a crumbly texture and mix in enough water to make a medium soft, smooth non-sticky pastry. Chill if required. Roll into a round and place in glass baking dish. Bake in preheated oven at 365 degrees Fahrenheit, til light golden.

Filling
1 large potato diced small
3 - 4 sticks celery chopped fine
1 cup chopped red and yellow bell peppers
3 medium carrots chopped med small
1 mini zuchini grated
1 small yellow summer squash grated
1 TBSP ghee
1 heaped tsp curry powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp asafoetida
1 1/2 tsp sea salt or to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper ground
1/2 tsp paprika
Approx 1/2 - 3/4 cup sour cream
Approx 1 1/2 TBSP corn starch sifted

Method
Heat ghee, add in spices and fry a few seconds, then add in potatos, carrots, celery and bell peppers, stirring frequently. After 5-7 mins add in a drop of water, cover and cook til tender. Add in zuchini and squash and cook a few more minutes. Add salt, pepper, paprika, sour cream, and corn starch and cook a little more, til slightly thickened.

Fill into the baked pastry and put back in oven to bake til top is golden brown :-)

Good served hot or at room temperature. Serves 8 as part of a larger meal.

Savory Party Bites

I love baking with puff pastry, especially when I don't have to make it from scratch! ;-) I whipped up this recipe "Savory Party Bites" in a few minutes based on what I had at hand in the kitchen. It's really simple and quick to make - takes less than 30 minutes. You could definitely add other vegetables, spices and cheeses to vary it. This delightful delicacy makes great finger food for a party, snack, or as part of a larger meal. Makes approx 12 squares.

Ingredients

2 sheets frozen puff pastry thawed out (Trader Joes does a good veggie one)
1 cup sour cream
1 TBSP cornstarch
1 small zucchini shredded
1/2 cup frozen sweetcorn
1 cup frozen bell pepper strips
1 tsp asafoetida
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp paprika flakes
1tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 TBSP Italian herbs
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
2 TBSP nutritional yeast
1 TBSP ghee

Method

Preheat oven to 365 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat ghee in a saute pan over medium heat and chaunce the spices and herbs for a few seconds. Add in zucchini,bell peppers and sweetcorn and saute for 5 mins. Lower heat and mix in sour cream and cornstarch. Cook down for 5 mins or  until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add in nutritional yeast and
mozzarella cheese, mixing evenly. Leave to cool.

Meanwhile prepare the thawed out pastry sheets by laying them on a dry flat surface and cutting into even squares (it will taste nice even if they're a little uneven - I cant cut a straight line for the life of me!). A pizza cutter probably would be a good tool to cut it evenly. 

Lightly oil a baking sheet and place the pastry on it. Place a tablespoon of  the sour cream filling onto each pastry square. Bake for 10-15 mins or until golden. Remove carefully using a flat spatula (or pan-knife as we say in Europe).

Thats it! Delicious served hot or cold - it will be gone in the blink of an eye, so hide it if you dont want it eaten before your party starts! Haha! :-D



Top left to right: Savory Party Bites, grilled asparagus, simple avocado salad, strawberry smoothie, and fried vegetable rice.